Bernese Shepherd Dog: breed description and cultivation

In the Swiss Alps, one of the most picturesque places on the planet, a breed of dog has appeared that is impossible not to love. Beautiful, loyal, loyal, peaceful, but not spineless Bernese Sheepdogs can really be considered Alpine dogs. Another name for the breed is the Bernese Mountain Dog. The small homeland of herding dogs is the Swiss canton of Bern.

The breed received official recognition only in 1907, although its actual history began much earlier. Mentions of dogs, one to one reminiscent of the Bernese Shepherd, are found in ancient historians. For centuries the Mountain Dog has been used as a loyal and courageous guard, as well as a professional shepherd. The strength and endurance of animals was entirely devoted to the service of the owner. And these are not big words! In the Middle Ages, peasants often suffered from nomadic robbers, while livestock suffered from attacks by wild animals: the Swiss mountain dog was irreplaceable.

About how useful and valuable the Mountain Dog was, talked and wrote at different times. Legends were made about loyal dogs.

In 1902 a specialized exhibition was held in Bern. There, for the first time, a dog of this breed was officially presented. A kind and generous disposition, remarkable appearance, strength, excellent health and intelligence of the animal quickly made him a universal favorite. First, they fell in love with the dog in Switzerland, then love for the shepherd's dog came to Germany, Austria, and now the whole of Europe was imbued with warm feelings for the Bernese Shepherd Dog.

Five years after the iconic exhibition, a club appeared in Switzerland, which united the breeders of the Mountain Dog. In Russia, the breed can be called the Bernese meadow dog, which is also true. In Moscow, a dog of this breed first appeared in the late 1980s, and in 1995 the first Russian club "Bernese Mountain Dog" was organized.

Bernese Sheepdogs are tricolor animals with thick and long coats. They are distinguished by a strong constitution, the animals are well built and very mobile. The size of the dog is above average, they are strong, with strong legs and a harmonious build, boasting good health and stamina. This characteristic allows you to not be inferior to either the Newfoundler or St. Bernard.

Bitches and males differ in size: the average height of a male at the withers is 68 cm, weight is 47 kg. The bitch grows up to 66 cm and weighs a maximum of 45 kg. The body of the dog is long, the back is even, straight, the black dog (although in fact it is tricolor) has a strong bone and well-developed muscles. Strong limbs with wide pads, a long and drooping tail, a massive high-browed head with tight jaw teeth, with a correct bite - this is all about the Bernese Shepherd Dog. Her ears are pendulous and bent forward (neither they nor the tail are docked).

Important points:

• the dog's coat is thick and long, the undercoat is dense, which is very important in the context of the alpine winter - there is no short-haired version of the breed and cannot be;
• the longest hair is on the tail and chest, the shortest hair on the forehead and ears;
• only one color is peculiar to the breed, all other variants will definitely be a marriage.

Newborn Mountain Dogs are born deaf and blind, they cannot regulate the temperature of their own body. Only by the end of the third week do the babies' eyes open, they hear everything, and in the fourth week their teeth erupt.

The intellectual level of dogs can be compared with the service breeds - the German and Belgian Shepherd. Sennenhunds have an enviable independence, which is not surprising: the "shaggy shepherdesses" performed a serious task. They had occasion to graze herds in the mountains, sometimes even without a master.

The males are perky, lively, cheerful. They grow up slowly because Large dogs can behave like huge puppies, for which children are especially fond of them. Earlier 2-3 years you will not see in an animal leisurely and thoroughness.

Bitches grow up faster: assigned assignments are carried out with high responsibility. They are affectionate and friendly to the owners and their close associates. Strangers are wary. Barking for no reason is not inherent in the Bernese Shepherd, but dogs do not suffer from excessive silence either. Genetically, they have the need to serve a person, therefore a more devoted, loyal, strong and intelligent animal still needs to be looked for.

It is no coincidence that many adults do not doubt: Mountain Dog will cope with small but important assignments. For example, he can bring the child to a stop, can ride him on a sled, or even be able to carry the master's bag from the store. And most importantly, this is not a burden for the dog, but a joy to serve. The dog appreciates communication with a person, so you need to spend time on it. But these expenses are pleasant for both parties - try to find such a friend!

The Bernese Shepherd Dog has several close relatives: for example, other Swiss Mountain Dogs are related to the Swiss Mountain Dog. And outwardly it is easy to notice.

But the differences are still noticeable:

• Appenzeller Mountain Dog - not the largest representative of the family, its size is average, and you can distinguish a smooth-haired dog by its tail curled into a horn;
• great swiss mountain dog - the largest dog in the world, a male can reach a height of 72 cm;
• Entlebucher Mountain Dog - the smallest dog in the family, they do not grow above 50 cm at the withers.

Of course, you shouldn't rush to the first ad you see, no matter how eloquent the breeder is and how great your desire would be to quickly acquire just such a friend. It will be useful to collect information about large clubs and kennels, their reputation is important. And if you visit exhibitions, then there you can already notice the parents of your future friend. The first point, even before meeting the puppy, is the assessment of the birthing box and the room where the puppies are kept. Strong unpleasant odor, general neglect should alert you.

What healthy babies look like:

• clean, clear eyes without discharge (there should not be any cloudy film on them);
• the dog's coat is clean - not dry or brittle;
• the nose is wet, without discharge;
• the puppy's anus should not have sticky fur, there is it, this indicates digestive problems;
• puppies should not be lethargic, inactive, the more the kids play around and play around, the more chances they are healthy and full of strength.

Pay attention to the following points.

• The backbone. Compare the thickness of the paws of babies: the one who has them is thin, obviously loses. But do not find fault too much, puppies 1.5-2 months old should resemble shaggy bears, and not their parents in miniature. So clumsiness and some discoordination are passing.
• Paws. Front and back straight, parallel to each other. The corners of the hind legs are slightly smoothed. On examination, you will see that the hind legs resemble a keg in shape, this is normal. It is abnormal if they are concave inward and x-shaped.
• Head. Already in childhood it should be seen that it is large, the muzzle is voluminous. If the muzzle is narrow and elongated, it will remain so, in size, of course, will increase, but this disproportionate body of the dog will not outgrow. The baby's ears should be large and wide.
• Movement. Lightness and freedom are the main criteria when choosing puppies. If the baby minces, this is not very good. Parents of puppies should have pictures for dysplasia, experienced breeders monitor this. Dysplasia itself is not particularly scary, but arthritis and arthrosis associated with it undermine the dog's health.
• Back. Straight, without any failures. The puppy should not give the impression of a humped back. During growth it may seem that the back is "falling through", but this happens because the hind legs are ahead of the front legs in growth.
• Tail. Long, thick at the base, tapering towards the end. The shape of the tail is saber-shaped; in an excited state, the tail rises to the line of the back. If a puppy's tail curls into a ring, this is a breed fault. It is difficult to see the ring in puppies, but the curling tendency is well seen.
• Color and coat... You won't find perfect symmetry. Pay attention to the good coloring of the face. The dick and cross on the chest should go without breaks. The coat is clean, not dry, not brittle, without dandruff. Babies have a soft fluffy coat.

By nature, the puppies should be sociable and inquisitive. Do not scare him: some buyers throw keys in front of the puppy, waiting for action. But most babies will just get scared.

Don't trust breeders who give guarantees and promises. Inspection, characteristics of parents - this is the information on the basis of which the buyer makes a conclusion.

Height and weight by months

The owner will definitely have to follow the beauty of the dog.Without the effort of the owner, it is difficult for a dog to maintain its amazing genetics. If you do not have the time and energy to care for such a rather large dog, it is better to immediately abandon the idea of ​​having a dog of this particular breed. Shedding and wool around the house will definitely be, it's just that it scares some, others consider it a "matter of everyday life" and a small price to pay for the happiness of finding such a friend.

The dog, despite its size and shaggy, is quite clean. But you still have to comb it out and clean it regularly. The outer hair should be combed once a week with a comb with long, sparse teeth. In autumn and spring, one cannot do without a puffer (furminator). A prerequisite for leaving is the timely removal of the undercoat. If the owner does not pay due attention to the molting of the animal, the case will turn into dermatitis or weeping eczema.

Other important aspects of the care and maintenance of the Bernese Shepherd.

• Be careful when bathing. It is possible and necessary to wash the dog, but without fanaticism. It is not always possible to immediately find a detergent that is loyal to the dog's body. It is impossible to bathe often a dog that has not shed its undercoat. If you are not preparing for the show, try to bathe your pet as little as possible in winter.
• Examine the dog's eyes every day.... Gently remove the secretions that have accumulated in the corners of the eyelids (with a sponge soaked in warm water). Any redness and swelling of the eyelids is a reason to contact your veterinarian. But you cannot wipe the dog's eyes with tea and decoctions of herbs (there may be an allergy).
• Check your ears daily, especially after summer walks, contact with tall grass, etc. To keep the dog's teeth and bite in good health, the pet's menu does not include hard bones and moslaki (this applies to those who are concerned about the dog's show career).

One very important point - Bern cannot be called a long-liver.... Alas, for various reasons, which are widely discussed today in the circle of professional communities, the Bernese Shepherd Dogs live up to 6.5-8 years. If all breeders turn to specialists in a timely manner, if any disease of the dog does not end with self-medication, it is possible to increase the lifespan of the breed. Incorrect diagnoses, failure to establish the cause of death, sale of puppies without documents and pedigrees - all this only aggravates the problem.

Berns are prone to cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy and dystrophy, hypothyroidism, etc. The dog must be monitored! Anything you can do to keep your dog healthy, do.

The food that makes up a bern's diet influences both his health and his behavior. Some food elements improve the condition of the coat, while others can, on the contrary, exacerbate the health of the dog. Because what to feed the dog and in what mode is a very important question.

8 Bern Nutrition Rules.

• Dry food should contain 18-26% protein, up to 16% fat. It should not contain the dominance of chemical preservatives, as this can lead to an allergic reaction. Should not be included in the feed of wheat, soybeans, corn. If the dog is allergic - this is an ironclad rule. Chicken or fish oil in dry food is encouraged.
• The basis of the diet of the Bernese Shepherd is raw lean meat: chicken, beef, lamb. Saltwater fish is possible. Alternate meat with offal.
• With meat, the pet will be happy to eat vegetables - carrots, broccoli, pumpkin and zucchini. The pet will also like such delicacies as apples, bananas (but not often).
• The best sources of dietary fiber are rice, oats, and barley.
• Once a week (maximum two) serve raw or boiled eggs and dairy products that are not very fatty.
• The ideal formula for the Bern diet is 40-60% meat, no more than 10% offal, up to 20% vegetables and fruits, 10% dairy products and cereals.
• With age-related diseases of the dog, feeding is adjusted - for example, the amount of sodium supplied with the feed decreases.
• Chondroitin and glucosamine should be included as valuable additives in feed.

Adult Berns should get about 1800 calories a day, older dogs - 1500. If the dog is active and working, his daily calorie intake is 3000 calories. After eating, you do not need to immediately stress the dog with an active walk: give it a rest for an hour or two. If your pet has a full stomach, and you expose it to physical activity, dangerous volvulus is possible. After training, also do not rush to feed the pet - wait half an hour or an hour.

Nurses and guides are also called Berns. Their main quality lies in the desire to be useful to their master. They are enthusiastically accepted for any assignment: moreover, if a dog is deprived of meaningful activity for the benefit of the owner, it very often falls ill and dies prematurely.

Training and education is not some process abstracted from the routine. You turn any walk, game, home communication into a lesson for your pet. You need to start from 2-3 months, when the hereditary stereotypes of behavior are activated in the baby, new ones can already be formed from life experience. It is at this age that mothers teach puppies functional forms of behavior.

Highlights of upbringing and training:

• effective encouragement is both a delicacy and happiness to play and chat with the owners;
• the peculiarity of the burns is that the order itself very quickly becomes their reward - for them this is the most important thing, to please and help the owner;
• avoid physical and mental overload - do not frequent with multiple repetitions, do not bring the puppies to fatigue;
• the very first "biting and grasping games" are a reason to quickly teach the dog not to clench its jaws very tightly;
• If the training is organized correctly, already at 4 months your baby will master the main disciplinary skills.

Three months is a very important period for the bern, it is time to socialize the puppy. At this age, his nervous system is formed, so show him the real world around him, with noisy streets and large crowds of people. But do it carefully, gradually increasing the time spent on a crowded street, in a park. Introduce your pet carefully to other people and other dogs, but make sure they are friendly first.

At this age, the baby begins to understand the most important things: you can go to the toilet on the street, and not endure until the litter box. Not everyone is thirsty for communication, therefore it is not worth rushing joyfully to everyone you meet - and this is also learned by the baby. Finally, he learns to accept food only from the hands of the owner.

Cynologists previously adopted several methods, each talking about their own ages for training. Today, experts adhere to a single system without additional stages of training, in a smooth mode, which is based on zoopsychology as much as possible.

The Bernese Shepherd Dog is a nice, kind, very intelligent and caring dog. You quickly become attached to her, she makes the whole family fall in love with herself. If you are serious and are not afraid to spend time and energy on raising and caring for a big shaggy friend, it's time to take a closer look at cute puppies. And if one has already appeared in your house, help your faithful friend live a happy dog's life!

In the next video you will find an overview of the Bernese Shepherd Dog breed.